C Gockel Writes

The Imp Series Box Set ~ by Debra Dunbar

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Imp Series 1-3 In the writing world there is, let us say, a difference of opinion on the merits of “genre fiction.” There are a lot of people for whom there is “literature”, which is deep and meaningful … and their is entertaining fluff, aka, genre fiction, which is not.

I call BS.

You can write things that are accessible and page turners that has deeper meanings and philosophical implications with multifaceted characters readers can care about. The genre fiction I like always does that, and the Imp Series is a prime example. The series explores the relationship of Chaos and Order, through Sam, an Imp hiding out on Earth, and her relationships with Demons, Angels, Humans, and others. The author, Debra Dunbar, has a degree in English with an emphasis on Medieval Literature and Folklore, and it really comes through in the Imp series as well as her Templar books. Her Angels aren’t sweet and nice (hey, in the Bible, Angels almost always say, “Be not afraid,” which kinda hints that they might be a bit scary.) Her demons aren’t misunderstood bad boys waiting to be saved either. They are their own damned species (ha!)

The great thing about the Imp series, is that Sam, being an Imp, is funny. There are laugh out loud moments, because even when her neck is on the line, she can be distracted by things like a chicken wand … which, considering she is an Imp, makes perfect sense.

Sam can be diabolical–much more so than my Loki–but she is fiercely loyal to her friends whether human, demon, or other. Oh, and bonus, the humans aren’t helpless. When they catch on to demonic danger, they fight back with guns. Lots and lots of guns.

Each story in this set is complete, but you’ll still want to rip right through the collection, because the characters rapidly become like old friends. I started reading these and didn’t write for a whole week … so … yeah. Getting the first three in a box set is a really good deal and you’ll wind up saving a lot of money.

The Spaceship Next Door by Gene Doucette

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The Spaceship Next Door by Gene DoucetteAvailable on Amazon US | Amazon UK | Amazon Canada | Amazon Australia | Nook |  iBooks  | Kobo

This is a first contact story, and it is delightful. It’s filled with sly humor, astute observations on human nature, and still manages to charter some territory through some deep philosophical waters. I don’t want to give to much away, so here is the setup:

The world changed on a Tuesday.

When a spaceship landed in an open field in the quiet mill town of Sorrow Falls, Massachusetts, everyone realized humankind was not alone in the universe.  With that realization, everyone freaked out for a little while.

Sixteen-year old Annie Collins is one of the ship’s closest neighbors.  Once upon a time she took every last theory about the ship seriously, whether it was advanced by an adult ,or by a peer.  Surely one of the theories would be proven true eventually—if not several of them—the very minute the ship decided to do something.  Annie is starting to think this will never happen.

One late August morning, a little over three years since the ship landed, Edgar Somerville arrived in town.  Ed’s a government operative posing as a journalist, which is obvious to Annie—and pretty much everyone else he meets—almost immediately.  He has a lot of questions that need answers, because he thinks everyone is wrong: the ship is doing something, and he needs Annie’s help to figure out what that is.

I don’t want to say too much about the story, because it had some terrific twists (if something seems a mite bit unrealistic to you, hang in there, an explanation will be forthcoming. Heh, heh, heh.) This story kept me glued to my Kindle. (It’s also available as an audiobook and a paperback at some vendors.) It is a terrific “buddy” fic … and I loved it.

 

Dark Horse by Michelle Diener

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Dark Horse by Michelle DienerAvailable at Amazon & Free in Kindle Unlimited: United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, Germany

I’m reading so many good books lately, and I’ve gotta review some before I move onto the next one! Michelle Diener’s Dark Horse is a girl get’s abducted by aliens book, but it is also a terrific buddy fic between girl and an artificial intelligence. It’s also just a rip-roaring fast read. Her transitions and her set-up is brilliant. She just throws you right in to the deep end of the pool and it WORKS. It’s a fun read, and I think she and I have had similar thoughts on AI. The love scenes aren’t graphic. Definitely one to pick up.

Book Review: Looking Through Lace

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Looking Through LaceLooking Through Lace is the second story I’ve read lately that features a matriarchal society. To hold my attention and suspend my disbelief, books that feature matriarchal societies have to be believable. To do that they have to explain away how women who are smaller and weaker and are encumbered by childbirth can get the upper hand. Also, I don’t like it if women in power are shown as being faultless … I tend to think power corrupts everyone.

Looking Through Lace easily slips around the first test of believability because the matriarchal society is alien. Alien matriarchal societies are a whole other different kettle of fish. I have no idea if pregnancy is hard for these aliens (would sort of like to know), but as it never comes up, I can let it slide. The men do appear to be stronger–but there was a singular event on their world that gave the women of society the upper hand. What is fascinating is how they hold onto it, and also how human linguists completely misconstrue the society based on their own preconceptions. The details of the alien species writing and language really set this story apart.

There is science, a little bit of romance, and a lot of drama–another highly recommended read*–I like it enough to purchase the second in series. You can purchase the first novella here:Amazon, Nook, Kobo, iBooks or just purchase the two novellas together Amazon, Nook, Kobo and save a few bucks.

*I will never go to the trouble to review a book I don’t recommend. I’m very picky and don’t finish most of the books I pick up, but I live in a glass house and will not throw stones. (Also, why write about a story I don’t like? My time is better spent writing a story I do like.)

Book Review: A Brother’s Price

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A Brother's Price by Wen SpencerAmazon, Nook, Kobo, and iBooks.

Somehow lately I wound up reading not one, but TWO books which feature worlds that are matriarchal. As someone who has lived in both Western  and Eastern countries, it’s actually difficult for me to suspend my disbelief about such societies. Yes, the ancient Egyptians, Romans, early European, and the upper class in Sparta had more egalitarian societies than some–but they weren’t equal. And despite varying levels of equality today, I don’t think equality has been truly attained. My guess is that it is just a matter of physical strength and the rigors of pregnancy. Men are stronger and in a “might equals right” society they will have a clear advantage. Pregnancy and childbirth also work a number on women; they can make the toughest woman sick and helpless and make it hard to function even in a society based on skills rather than might. Pregnancy can also cause debilitating injuries that would make combat more difficult. Denying any of these facts doesn’t help women overcome these problems, and some stories I’ve read do deny them.

So, in order to stay engaged, I need a world where it is clear there is a reason women are able to maintain the upper hand.

Secondly, I don’t like worlds that gloss over women’s ability to be evil. I think that the propensity for “evil” comes with power and believing you can get away with it.

So, a book with a matriarchal society has to overcome these first two hurdles before I can find it believable enough to engage in–and two have!

The first is A Brother’s Price, by Wen Spencer. It’s a steampunk sort of alternate reality, and the world building is very well done. In Spencer’s society men are stronger than women, childbirth and pregnancy are still really hard, but only about 3% of the population are male. This isn’t really explained–but I could think of a very scientific reasons it could be plausible right off the bat (a disease that affects those with Y chromosomes for instance–we already have those, just not to such a degree.) In this society women are basically expendable, and do all the hard, dangerous, and interesting work. Because parties of “sisters” will kidnap men for their households, women are trained in combat, and men are carefully guarded. The men also don’t get to have much fun. They wind up doing a lot of the housework and child raising.

“Sisters” by blood and alliance share a single man in unions that are often 30 to 1. This limits the number of times a woman will get pregnant, which means she will have lots of time to do all those other dangerous, difficult, and interesting things. They make the money, and have the power over their sons and brothers. Because men don’t get to do a lot of interesting things, their opinions aren’t valued.

So here is our setting, and where we meet our hero, Jerin Whistler, about to reach the ripe old age of 16 and have his “coming out.” Just a few months before this fateful day, his big sisters and mothers are away from the homestead and Jerin, uses his greater strength to help his little sisters rescue a fallen princess. Jerin is from a lower class than the princess … and so begins a story of forbidden love in a time when the princess (and her sisters) are in danger of losing their crowns. The story is a mystery / adventure / romance with a happily ever after and a lot of humor … but the setting, and how Wen inverted the world was what made it really sparkle. I highly recommend it. You can pick it up at Amazon, Nook, Kobo, and iBooks.